The award comes in the face of some controversy, as according to Breitbart, liberals had stood in opposition to Limbaugh even being considered as a finalist.

In response, the Children’s Book Council, which oversees the awards, posted a letter back in March to those critical of its finalist selections, nothing that the sole criteria for author of the year was performance on the bestseller lists. Moreover,

“Ultimately, kids and teens (over one million of them if as many vote this year as did last year) will decide who wins in all 6 Children’s Choice Book Awards categories…”

In a speech delivered in recognition of the award, which you can view here starting at 56:27, Limbaugh expressed his love for country and gratitude for being selected, stating:

Featured Book

Author: Rush Limbaugh

“This is unexpected, but it’s a thrill…I want to thank all the children who voted, and who’ve read the books…It was invigorating and something about which I’m very very passionate about [to write history books for children]…I love America. I wish everybody did. I hope everybody will. It’s one of the most fascinating stories of human history: this country, and what it has meant to the world, and what it means to citizens who live here. And it’s a delight, and it’s an opportunity to try to share that story with young people so that they can grow and learn to love and appreciate the country in which they’re growing up, and will someday run, and lead and inherit.

So I want to thank everybody that’s made this possible. It genuinely is a thrill. This is a tremendous event. I’m so honored by this. I’m honored to be here among all of you and all of the other nominees for this and the other categories. It’s just a wonderful evening and I thank everybody who had anything to do [with this]…particularly the kids who voted in every category…it is a great project that you have going here — children’s literacy and to expand it — and the organization and the work that you’re doing is just profound. And I’m honored and humbled to be a small little part of it.”